Ponomarev’s Deputy has been arrested by the officers of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

The Security Service of Ukraine has arrested Igor Perepechayenko, Deputy of Sloviansk self-proclaimed Mayor Ponomarev. The SBU Press Center Spokesman Maryna Ostapenko has reported this at a briefing.

She claimed that Perepechayenko “is implicated in organizing separatist activities and large-scale collisions in Donetsk Oblast, accompanied by violence and resistance to the authorities.”

It is known that Perepechayenko has come into contact with the members of the reconnaissance and sabotage group of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which is headed by “Strelok”. He has also assisted these persons in organizing terrorist acts in Donetsk Oblast. These actions of the Russian Federation secret services have resulted in death of a Security Service officer during the performance of his official duties,” Ostapenko stated.

She also added that on April 22 by “Strelok’s” order the militiaman traveled by a chartered plane to Moscow, where he spoke with journalists of Russia’s Channel One and “has received instructions and guidance from a foreign party’s supervisor on taking measures to further escalate the situation in the eastern regions of Ukraine”.

“The supervisor has given 19 thousand US dollars and technical means to encrypt telephone conversations for “Strelok”. Thus, Perepechayenko has been arrested in “Donetsk” Airport during his return from Moscow as a result of a SBU special operation.

Earlier the SBU has informed that around 40 people are kept in terrorist captivity.

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